Felipe Jácome | The Last Amazonas

Photo © Felipe Jacome- All Rights Reserved

The series of beautiful monochrome portraits of The Last Amazonas by Felipe Jacome is to document the struggle of indigenous women defending the Ecuadorian Amazon from oil exploitation by large oil exploration companies, backed by the government.

The portraits are accompanied by statements from the women themselves, explaining their history, culture and traditions. The color decorations are drawn using the same natural dyes used by the tribes to decorate their faces.

Faced by relentless exploitation, the Amazonian indigenous people have taken their case to their country's government, and have started muscular actions against oil companies operating in the region. These native indigenous groups accuse oil production for river pollution and soil contamination.

Felipe Jácome is a documentary photographer born in Ecuador, whose work has focused on issues of human mobility and human rights. He won the Young Reporter Competition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and his photos have appeared in publications such as Foreign Policy Magazine, The Guardian, Vice Magazine, CNN Photo Blog and the Miami Herald. His photographs have also been exhibited in London, Geneva, Amsterdam, Quito, and Washington DC.

5 Things To Do At Dwarka, Gujarat

Most of the people visit the auspicious Dwarka city for the visit to the Jagatmandir. There's lot more to do when you are at Dwarka. (For a detailed Information, read the post 'Trip to Somnath,Gir Nageshwar and Dwarka' on my blog.)

1. Book yourself a ticket in the Municipal Bus for the 'Chaar Dhaam Yatra'. The bus leaves by 1400 hrs., so book Early ! The service is cheaper and better than the private players. So Don't miss it because of time.
2. Make your advance arrangements for accommodation.You could be taken by surprise for the rush at times, given only a few good stay options available.
3. If planning to leave Dwarka for Ahmedabad overnight, Book your tickets early. The only overnight options are private buses, and the seats fill fast.
4. Spare ample time for Bet Dwarka. The trip is worth few hours for sure.
5. Shop in the market near JagatMandir. If planning to shop for 'Pooja' at home, Do check out the market here. It's better than Nathdwara, Udaipur.

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Did you like my post ? Did I miss out on an important detail ? Would you like to add more 'Things to Do' to the above. Please give your feedback. I'd love to see your comments below.

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Iditarod 2009: Brutal Weather Impacts The Race!

Yesterday I made the bold prediction that Lance Mackey would cruise to his third consecutive Iditarod title, and that Jeff King would over take Sebastian Schnuelle to move into third place on the way to Nome. I even thought there would be an outside shot that I'd be able to announce the winner of the year's race by now. But, mother nature had other plans.

Yesterday, as the teams approached the coast, weather conditions turned brutal, with temperatures plummeting and nasty winds coming into play. Out on the trail, the mushers and their dogs endured -50º F temperatures, and the blowing snow made it impossible to see their way. Mackey made it into Koyuk, where he ended up staying for most of the day, while plenty of others were caught out on the trail when the conditions went bad. King actually turned around and went back to Shaktoolik, and according to this great post over at the Iditablog, is holed up in an old, run-down shack with a couple of other mushers and their dogs.

As of now, Mackey is into Elim and still in first place. Schnuelle is running in second, with John Baker in third. Both of them are through the checkpoint at Koyuk and are out on the trail somewhere, trying to chase Mackey down.

There has been some trouble at the back of the pack as well, as three rookie mushers got into some trouble yesterday. Race officials became worried when the three, who were traveling together at the time, were long overdue for the next checkpoint. Search teams were sent out and they discovered Lou Packer on the trail, with two of his dogs dead, the cause of which is currently unknown. Lou and his team were lifted off the course at that time. The other two mushers, Kim Darst and Blake Matray ended up scratching as well, and had to be led off the course by a snow mobile team who came to find them. The high winds had covered the trail in snow leaving them stranded and unsure where to go to the next checkpoint.

Hopefully we'll have more news soon. It looks like Mackey still is the odds on favorite to finish first, and the battle is on for second and third. There will be a major scramble for the rest of the spots on the leaderboard once conditions improve.

Digital India through E-Governance

E-Governance, Click. Digital India, Done.

Thanks to the path-breaking e-governance project, Digital India, today our country is at cusp of a history using 'Technology' as an enabler. Digital India is an umbrella program of our government comprising projects of tune of massive Rs. 1 lakh crore aimed to transform India to a knowledge economy. It is estimated that 5 crore new jobs would be created through the project ! The mainstay of the program (that is due for completion by 2018) includes ensuring access to technology infrastructure and government services to citizens through digital empowerment of citizens.

Glorious Opportunity - Digital India

The scale of investments in this nation building project and its potential to touch the lives of several millions of our fellow Indians, can best be achieved through a dynamic industry partnership. Intel, the world leaders in microprocessors, can indeed play a pivotal role. Intel's intention to participate in this grand project augurs great success for its completion. In the recent past Intel India has released an android based Digital Skills Training 'App' comprising of modules (that are available in 5 local languages) of:

Digital India : 'Appified'

1. Digital Literacy, 
2. Financial Inclusion and 
3. Cleanliness. 

Interestingly Digital Literacy would provide a major thrust for E-governance, helping millions of Indians to realize their dreams while breaking away from shackles of a legacy of exploitation. It would also ensure accountability of the state with Indians realizing the power of their rights.

Financial Inclusion would also be an equally pivotal cornerstone, as millions of Indians are still outside the ambit of any formal financial framework. It is worthwhile to note that the recent government projects of 'Jan Dhan Yojana' would be perfectly complemented  by the app's emphasis.

The third pillar of the Digital Skills Training App is that of cleanliness which also resonates the 'Swach Bharat Abhiyan' of the government. In totality, this is a reflection of the shared vision of India and Intel.

Digital India's success would be achieved through enabling Internet across all the country, Intel, the global technology leaders, would be working closely with Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. for achieving the milestone of broadband highways.

India and Technology : Together with Innovation.


I'm sure that all of us would agree that one of the major factors to drive the dream of a Digital India would be through innovation. And in the same corollary, there can not be a better partner than Intel. Its expertise in Innovation would help us achieve the local solutions pertinent for issues that are characteristic of our country. Further, these issues also need to be addressed through innovative solutions. These may include problems that are particular to our rural hinterland, like illiteracy coupled with high penetration of teledensity.

Low Literacy, High Teledensity: Curious Case of India

Or may be cases that are coupled with behavioral issues like access to television content without access to basic health amenities. Community Radios that broadcast local content using broadband highways can be highly beneficial for individual communities with their unique characteristics.

Low cost smart phones designed for specific roles such as:

1. Health, 
2. Education, 
3. Weather 
4. Agriculture 
5. Banking including credit etc.

These in turn could accelerate the pace of e-governance and in true sense a digitally enabled India.

The Digital Differentiation: Access and Timing.

Digital Differentiation: Access and Timing

The differentiating factor in this project, where perhaps others lacked could be the actual access at the last mile, once the project sees the light of the day. Considering the limited success in the past for the plans such as 'National E-Governance plan'. Another factor worth considering is arriving at the right locus of the technology life cycle, or in crude terms, the timing of the various phases of the project. Intel could well prove to be the perfect partner in this regard, by virtue of the Project implementation expertise and the execution of effectiveness and efficiency of the Project. Intel's 'Digital Skills for India Program' can celebrate the project with its target of training 5 million Indians for their digital skills.

The various components of Digital India, be it hardware, the license cost, software development life cycle have to be timed to reduce the cost of the project to the lowest extent possible, so that the minimal cost affects maximum scope of the project to bridge the digital gap, assuming static cost of the project.

Tablet and the Chalk : Long Bridge to Walk

The biggest winners of this champion cause would be the citizens of India who would gain accountability, transparency and above all an empowerment. Intel inside Digital India could be the deciding factor in the revolution's success.

The Tablet and the Chalk, With a Long Bridge to Walk,

To walk the Indian Divide, Innovation, ambition to chide,

Innovate with a class timing, To reap the benefits it bring,

Reap the project expertise, Digital India with Intel's eaze,

With Intel Inside, Digital India and its pride,

E-governance you would run, Digital India, a dream, would be done

Image(s) Courtesy : Google Images

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The views expressed above are personal in nature are completely that of the blogger, and that of the blogger alone.

Hanoi Airport Transfers - Eating and Drinking

Spotted 35km north of the city, the Noi Bai worldwide air terminal pulls in less long term flight entries than Ho Chi Minh City however there are numerous landings from centers all over Asia.

The air terminal is an advanced structure which is enjoyably bother free as its external city area doesn't pull in city inhabitants looking to offer their merchandise and administrations to remote landings as is the situation in some Asian air terminals.

Related post: Vietnam travel packages

The excursion into the city is along an advanced parkway however you may see a crowd of wild ox brushing by the side of the street. Drivers have a tendency to be neurotics determined to staying in the surpassing path the entire route without expelling their hand from the horn. As you approach the downtown area you'll be struck by the volume of motorbikes out and about and as you enter the Old Quarter the rotting structural engineering gives a sudden indication of the impact of French frontierism on the city.

Most city inns will send a driver to gather you from Hanoi Airport in case you're staying a couple of days else they'll charge you about $10us to send somebody for you. Then again, simply go to the authority air terminal taxi rank and pay the passage ahead of time (again its about $10us) for a taxi ride to any downtown area lodging. On the off chance that you need something less expensive there's a Vietnamese Airline minibus running between airplane terminal entries and the Vietnam Airlines office in the downtown area on Pho Trang Thi. Simply search for the signs once you're in the general population entries lounge. This is all extremely direct as there's no one bothering you in the air terminal so simply get your heading and head for the prepaid taxi rank or the Vietnam Airlines transport.

There are Hanoi inns arranged over a wide region of the city however the larger part of explorers will decide to stay in the French impacted Old Quarter. This some piece of town is an extensive maze of boulevards stuffed with shops offering anything you can envision, bars, restaurants, travel offices, lodgings and most significantly …  motorbikes. HCMC is terrible for mopeds and bikes however by one means or another the Old Quarter of Hanoi appears to be more regrettable, likely on the grounds that the riders never find the opportunity to ride quick enough to figure out how to manouever the thing! You'll end up strolling along the street with the movement as all asphalt space is taken up by stopped motorbikes.

Consuming and Drinking in Hanoi 

The Old Quarter offers loads of incredible Vietnamese spots to consume at low costs. Don't fall into the trap of heading exclusively to the spots your manual prescribes. We discovered some reasonably apathetic administration in Hanoi most strikingly in bars and restaurants that had 'made it' by showing up in the 'voyager's spiritual text'. They generally appear to have an English menu and know enough English to get by, then again, take your Vietnamese sustenance list and have a great time attempting to request. Of the Hanoi restaurants that we went to it was the Vietnamese sustenance that we appreciated the most. Be that as it may, there is an incredible decision accessible including some great French, Indian and Thai choices.

For the best perspective of the commotion of the Old Quarter you must go to the intersection of Pho Ta Hien and Pho Luong Ngoc Quyen. Go to one of the bars and force up a minor stool on the asphalt, request a glass of crisply prepared Bia Hoi brewskie at 1500 Dong a glass (10 pennies) and watch the world pass by. Here you'll see the cyclo drivers in activity, the lady convey kilos of crisp foods grown from the ground on their shoulder, bikes laden with all that you would hope to discover in a tool store and substantially more. Sit on the asphalt with your cam and you'll get spectacular shots of Hanoi road existence without being taken note.

Touring & Getting Around 

Permit less time for touring in Hanoi than in HCMC. You can see the primary Hanoi attractions agreeably in one day however you'll presumably need two with the goal that you can walk around at recreation and have in any event a large portion of a day to meander capriciously around the Old Quarter. The fundamental vacation destinations are based on the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex where individuals from everywhere throughout the nation come to pay reverence to their deliverer whose preserved cadaver rests here for 9 months of the year.

Different attractions inside the complex incorporate Hi Chi Minh's stilt house where he existed amid a great part of the war, the Presidential Palace for Indochina, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda. The Temple of Literature gives a pleasant break from the occupied lanes and is well worth a visit as is a walk around the Hoan Kiem Lake which lies right in the heart of focal Hanoi.

Different Hanoi transport alternatives are accessible however the greater part of this is possible by walking however the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex is a reasonable stroll from the Old Quarter so a cyclo is a decent approach to get there. Simply affirm a cost ahead of time (around 30,000 Dong = $2us) and the poor man will cycle you two crosswise over town. Metered taxis are additionally generally accessible and you'll never go more than several minutes without somebody offering to take you around on the once again of their motorbike.

For Hanoi shopping conceivable outcomes simply meander the Old Quarter where you'll run over bounty trinket shops, workmanship, silk and handiwork stores and tailors who will make you a dress or a suit in a few days. Quality sham marked things aren't normal so purchase them in HCMC in the event that they're on your shopping rundown.

Visits From Hanoi 

This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises of in excess of 3,000 modest islands made of limestone and is an outright must for anybody going to this locale.

The other most prominent Hanoi visits are the full day outing to the Perfume Pagoda where Buddhist sanctums are incorporated with limestone bluffs and the overnight excursion to Sapa close to the Chinese fringe which is situated in a valley encompassed by staggering view. From Sapa you can make a go at trekking and stay in neighborhood town

Iditarod 2009: Pre-Race Hype!

The 2009 Iditarod gets underway this Saturday, with the ceremonial start in Anchorage, followed by the proper start on Sunday. This year, the 1100+ mile event, dubbed "The Last Great Race" will take the Southern Route, used in odd years, and will pit the worlds best mushers against one another to see who can reach Nome the fastest.

As the race nears, some stories have begun to crop up ahead of the dog sleds taking off this weekend. Outside Online has two nice articles today, the first of which is an interview with Sebastian Schnuelle, who just won the Yukon Quest, in record time no less,and is now gearing up to have a go at the Iditarod as well. The German talks about his background in the sport, what drew him to sled dogs, and what a typical day is like out on the trail during one of these events. It's a good interview and it's nice to see Sebastian getting some recognition in the press.

Of course, only one one man has ever won both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year, and that man is Lance Mackey, who will be going for his third straight win when the race gets underway on Saturday. Outside Online has a profile on Mackey as well, calling him "The Other Lance". The article is a bit outdated, as Mackey didn't compete in this year's Yukon Quest, but he is gearing up to defend his Iditarod title against a very strong field of competitors. Lance hopes to join the ranks of the Iditarod legends by winning his third straight, putting him in some very heady company.

I always look forward to this classic race each year. It's generally a lot of fun to follow online and watch events unfold. This year should be no different. Can't wait for it to start!

Travel HaiPhong in tour VietNam Travel

Travel 102 km from the capital Hanoi, one will discover Hai Phong – one of North Vietnam's most delightful yet deliberately imperative port urban areas

"Hai" implies sea, and "Phong" intends to guard. Hai Phong consequently can be wild, its seas more than once battling off intruders to ensure Vietnam's power. At the same time this city with its sanctuaries and shorelines can be brilliantly exquisite and rich in the meantime. It is nicknamed "Ostentatious city" after the red flashy trees which develop inexhaustibly around the city.

Topography 

The city is one of Vietnam's significant ports and mechanical zone. Helpfully arranged at the junction of real ocean courses, water ways, tracks and parkways, Hai Phong is a fundamental activity association in North Vietnam.

Atmosphere 

Influenced by storm winds, Hai Phong has a frosty, dry winter from November to April and a hot, sticky summer season from May to October. The normal downpour fall is from 1.600 to 1.800 mm, and storms have a tendency to happen from June to September. Normal mugginess is 80 – 85%, normal temperature is 20c to 23c. The temperature may shift from 40c in the late spring to 5c in the winter months.

Extending 22km wide between two streams Cam and Van Uc, Do Son with its delicate white sand has dependably been a perfect shoreline objective. Other than the delectable common excellence of its 3 shorelines, Do Son additionally forms numerous social and authentic curios.

Related post: Vietnam travel

Here, on top of Ngoc Son mountain are the remaining parts of a 10 story tower made of earth and an aged Buddhist sanctuary (both inherent the eleventh century). The sanctuary shows a standout amongst the most pompous and huge Vietnamese Buddhist chimes of the period. The ringer was, for a couple of hundred years, submerged in the sea after its fall amid an expansive storm. It wasn't until 1958 that neighborhood anglers figured out how to re-find the ringer and bring it up to land. After nature's savage medications, the ringer (made of an expansive rate of immaculate gold) still rings close to flawlessness.

Bison battling is a celebrated nearby custom that has gone back many years. Travelers coming to Do Son on the ninth of the eighth month yearly (as per the lunar timetable) can witness the last adjusts of this eagerly awaited happy occasion at the town stadium.

Those enthusiastic about history might decided to visit the "No-Number Port" where ships without permit numbers from North Vietnam began their trip on the Ho Chi Minh ocean course to bring help to the North Vietnam armed force amid the war. An alternate chronicled end of the line is the recently restored Bao Dai chateau, where Vietnam's last lord used numerous summer occasions and served critical visitors.

Do Son likewise gloats an excellent club that guarantees to bring fun and diversion to all who recall to bring their identification upon entrance.

Feline Ba Island 

Feline Ba is the biggest out of the almost 2000 islands encompassing the Halong narrows range. Feline ba has 17.300ha of tropical timberland, 570 of which is antiquated. Under the green shade is a various environment, with several important restorative herbs and trees. Feline Ba  is likewise home to the jeopardized Komodo iguana, which can far up to 100kg. Travelers going by Cat Ba have a lot of decisions between the island's tropical shorelines, holes and the Cat Ba  National Park.

Planned in 1941 by the French,  Quan Hoa is a perplexing of little bloom stalls and boutiques intended to join Western and Oriental principles of magnificence. This clamoring yet rich blossom marker has gotten to be enthusiasms for some specialists and picture takers.

Lair (Nghe sanctuary) 

The sanctuary reveres the female general Le Chan, who is viewed as the author of Hai Phong city. The sanctuary is extraordinary in light of the fact that it has a quaint little inn stone cut from totally stone, with multifaceted mythical serpent adornme

All of Asia Photo Contest | Winner

All of Asia's Second International Photo Competition has recently announced its winner.

Roberto Fenanti won the “All of Asia”, the second international travel photography competition organised by 1000for1.com with his monochromatic photograph of Bagan in Myanmar, which in the opinion of the judges, captured the perfect moment under a unique light.

Photo © Roberto Fenanti- Courtesy 1000for1.com

In an email, Matteo Vegetti (a photographer himself, and one of the founders/organizers of the contest) graciously asked me whether I concurred with the choice...and having had the chance of viewing the other submissions, I do. It wasn't an easy task though because of the quantity of wonderful photographs, but this one stood out.

The judges also agreed to award four honorable mentions to photographers Jakub Rybicki, Chee Keong Lim, Neil Herbert and Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman.

These submitted photographs aptly convey the sense of Asia, with two scenes of Myanmar, one of Afghanistan and from Bangladesh.

The three members of the jury (aka the judges) were Matteo Vegetti, a travel and documentary photographer, Javier Arcenillas, a humanist freelance photographer and Johnny Miller, the cofounder of Maptia.

Tour Lang Co in Vietnam travel

Lang Co is an excellent, island-like stretch of shoreline joined at each one end to the focal shore of Vietnam. The meager bit of area encases a tidal pond scattered with little pontoons on one side, while alternate neglects the South China Sea. In the early 1900s, Emperor Khai Dinh is said to have gone to Lang Co and been so shocked its common excellence that he requested his mid year castle to be developed there.

Related post: Vietnam travel

The castle was never assembled, however it appears Khai Dinh was  by all account not the only one to admire the capability of the territory, as various inns and resorts have seemed all the more as of late on its shores.

The lodging's beachfront area makes it a fantastic objective for shoreline darlings, snorkelers and watersports fans, with waterskiing, parasailing and wakeboarding, among others, accessible to visitors. Furthermore just over a hour's drive from Lang Co are the notable structures of Hoi A, the UNESCO-assigned antiquated tombs of Hue and the relinquished Hindu sanctuaries of My Son.

The lodging's 229 rooms and suites are contemporary-Asian in style, with hearty shades of orange, cream and tan, and have mounted oriental calligraphy and nearby workmanship. Our most loved of the rooms are the two-room lofts: vast, vaporous, light spaces part in excess of two stories, with divided living, feasting and resting regions, astonishing perspectives of the South China Sea, and additionally private decks, plunge pools and outside structures.

Feasting choices incorporate The Marketplace, with a choice of worldwide and neighborhood dishes; Moomba, a beachfront restaurant that serves tapas, Rice Bowl which, and additionally sustenance, has a broad menu of rice-based beverages, and the Upper Deck, a casual parlor with ocean sees.

The spa has two downpour fog rooms, and its 10 treatment rooms, and joins nearby characteristic add-ins - rice, drain and oils - into its treatments. Visitors can take home vital oils, incense and fired oil burners from the spa shop.

10 Reasons To Travel Across The World

Came across this on a Travel channel (now more of a food channel) that continues to stay in my memory.

For the Monday Blues. 
For the Weather.
For the Sweet Tooth. 
For the Sour Wait. 
For the Memories and 
To Forget. 
For the Sale. 
For the Soul. 
For too many reasons. 
Sometimes for None. 

We Travel. Hop on!

Why we Travel ?

Trek Fansipan Mountain in tour VietNam Travel

From the enchanting capital of Hanoi to the taking off Hoang Lien Mountains; this visit takes you out of the way on a trekking exploit up Vietnam's tallest Mountain. Visit minority slope tribe people groups and flavor the captivating regular excellence of stunning vistas, lavish valleys and fog laced tops as you handle the testing rising to the highest point of Fansipan Mountain....

Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam's clamoring frontier capital. Your driver and aide will reach you outside the things case of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your inn in the downtown area. Toward the evening, delight in an introduction cyclo visit around Hanoi's Old Quarter then enjoy a welcome supper at one of the city's finest restaurants.

Today you have a full day to investigate Vietnam's enchanting capital. With its wide tree-lined streets, French pioneer structural engineering, serene lakes and aged oriental pagodas; Hanoi is a diverse blend that offers something for everybody. Your city visit will take you to Hanoi's key locales: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the adjacent One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the quiet Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city's historical centers (a decision between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). At night revel in a conventional Water Puppet Performance – a special Vietnamese fine art hailing from Southeast Asia's wet-rice society – before heading to the train station to get your night train to Laocai.

The train lands in Laocai in the early morning. Eat at a neighborhood restaurant then set out on a beautiful drive up the mountain to Sapa: Northwest Vietnam's chief travel end of the line. Roosted at a state of mind 1,600 meters above broad valleys and terraced rice paddies, Sapa was initially settled as a ridge retreat for French heads looking to escape the mid year's high temperature. Home to numerous slope tribe people groups, Sapa's different societies and detachment provide for it an exceptional appeal. Weigh in at the inn (if room accessible before 2 P.m) and flavor the crisp mountain air on a mobile visit around the captivating town.

Fansipan Mountain, Vietnam's tallest crest, towering in high polish over the Sapa slope station. Eat at the inn then set out on your campaign, leaving town and trekking through falling rice patios to visit a large portion of the encompassing slope tribe towns. Stop for an excursion lunch at a height of 1,300 meters before proceeding with your trek to night's camping area (1,650 meters ASL). Your aide and notices will pitch the tents and set up a scrumptious supper around the pit fire.

Use a whole day trekking the taking off Fansipan Mountain. The climb can be extremely strenuous on occasion and obliges some physical planning. Stop for lunch on an edge roosted 2,200 meters ASL. Stretch your legs and absorb the stunning perspectives over the Sapa Valley before proceeding to the night's camping area at 2,900 meters ASL.

See more: Vietnam travel deal

The campaign proceeds as you climb Fansipan Summit, fixing off at an elevation of 3,143 meters. Weave through bamboo timberlands as we climb the soak way to the mountain crest. The trek is testing, however the surrounding vistas from the "top of Vietnam" makes the hardship all advantageous. Eat and rest at the summit, drinking in the crude magnificence of the wild. Slide toward the evening and come back to yesterday's campground for the night.

Eat at the campground then start your not too bad back up to Sapa. You require some investment diving the soak trails to appreciate the encompassing perspectives of the fog woven mountains and far off towns. Your campaign closes in Sapa with a goodbye supper held at one the town's well known eateries - the ideal approach to thank the nearby group.

Appreciate a free day to find Sapa at your relaxation. Investigate the neighborhood business and orchid arrangement, visit Dragon Mountain, or just unwind and appreciate the view. Leave Sapa in the late evening for the Laocai Station, where you will get your train once more to Ha

Ken Hermann | Beauty of Omo Valley

Photo © Ken Hermann - All Rights Reserved

I'm certainly glad to have photographed the Omo Valley in 2004 at a time when the influx of tourists and thrill-seeking photographers was considerable less than what it is now. What I've often seen coming out of the cradle of humankind (as the Omo Valley is often called) has been overworked photographs, with its tribespeople over made-up and fetishized by having them wear incongruous head gear and unnatural accessories.

So a trace of skepticism accompanied my initial look at Ken Hermann's Beauty of Omo Valley; fully expecting to see the same style of photography...but I was pleasantly surprised. No fetishized or Disney-fied versions of these handsome people in this gallery...just beautiful photographs made of equally beautiful people. While obviously staged with care, using paraphernalia such as umbrellas, reflectors and flashes, and photographed with digital Phase One 654 camera, the photographs are simple, and reflect Omo Valley people without the overbearing artifices used by other photographers.

Ken Hermann is based in Copenhagen, and works for a diverse range of clients including leading brands, agencies and media corporations. With a degree in advertising photography, Ken's work was published by a number of magazines and exhibited around the world. One of his projects made him the winner of Hasselblad Masters 2012.

According to an interview with the German GEO magazine, Ken describes that tourism to the Omo Valley has significantly increased over the past few years, and with the improved infrastructure comes the constant tour buses to villages with people jumping out, making photos, jumping back, and driving to the next villages.

For a back story kind of look into Ken Hermann's Omo Valley photo shoots, view the short video below: